Yanga Secures League Championship with Victory Over Fadlu’s Simba in Exciting Kariakoo Derby
The Young Africans celebrated a 2-0 victory against Fadlu Davids’ Simba SC in the season finale, securing their fourth consecutive championship in the Kariakoo derby at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Wednesday.
Ivorian attacking midfielder Pacome Zouzoua kicked off the scoring with a penalty just seven minutes into the second half, while Clement Mzize sealed the victory with an outstanding goal in the 89th minute.
This victory allowed Yanga to complete a league double against their fierce rivals for the second consecutive season, having previously clinched the first leg with a narrow 1-0 win thanks to Maxi Nzengeli’s sole goal last October.
Despite their efforts, the Reds of Msimbazi struggled to keep the title race competitive, trailing just behind Timu Ya Wananchi throughout the season, with their only two losses occurring in the derby clashes.
Approaching the highly anticipated derby match, there was only one point separating the two Tanzanian giants, with Yanga leading the standings with 79 points, while second-placed Simba followed closely with 78 points before this crucial showdown.
With this hard-won victory, the title holders amassed an impressive total of 82 points, finishing four points ahead of their rivals. Yanga wrapped up the season with 27 wins, one draw, and just two losses over 30 league matches.
Meanwhile, the South African coach guided Simba to surpass the 75-point threshold for the first time in four seasons during his inaugural year with the 22-time Tanzanian champions, who also reached the CAF Confederation Cup final, ultimately losing to RS Berkane of Morocco.
Notwithstanding his earnest attempts to push Young Africans, Davids struggled to sustain momentum as the season climaxed, obscuring the quest for the first league title for the red side of Dar es Salaam since the 2020/21 season.
As Yanga aims for a domestic double with the upcoming CRDB cup final, Simba finished the season without any silverware. However, a silver lining exists as the former Orlando Pirates co-coach successfully guided his team back to the CAF Champions League.